Albayanos to mark Gov. Salceda’s day with environment activities

MANILA, Philippines - Various groups have lined up month-long activities aimed at highlighting the gains and programs that have helped transformed once sleepy Albay into a bustling and multi-awarded province.

Local government units, agencies, academic, professional and youth organizations will also celebrate the 54th birthday of Albay Gov. Joey Salceda on Oct. 26.

Rodel Alzaga, head of the barangay facilities department at the provincial capitol, said the celebration consists of activities focused on environment protection, climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction.

Salceda is now on his third and last term as governor and will run unopposed for Albay’s second congressional district in the 2016 elections.

The activities set are tree and mangrove planting, coastal and river cleanups, health and dental civic actions, drug abuse seminars in barangays, food production and backyard gardening, concerts and feeding programs, among others.

Barangay consultations, information and education on health, disaster risk reduction, climate change adaptation are carried out in a series of Team Albay Countryside Development Caravan (TACDEC), backed by a multi-group effort from the military, the government and private sectors.

Sports and tourism, which earned Albay national and international recognition for its cultural and culinary festivals, will also highlight the celebration.

The other developments are the 77,200 scholars of the province; improvement in the province’s National Achievement Test ranking from 177th to 19th; increase in foreign tourist arrivals from 8,700 in 2006 to 339,000 in 2014; Zero Casualty in disasters; Albay as UN Global Model in Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR); Asian leadership in Climate Change Adaptation and Senior Global Champion in DRR; Gawad Pamana ng Lahi as Best Province (2010-2013), Department of Interior and Local Government; Gawad Kalasag Award Hall of Fame as Best Provincial Disaster Coordinating Council for 2009, 2010, 2011, among others.